Caccese v Liehberr Container Cranes, Ltd.

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

Caccese v Liehberr Container Cranes, Ltd. 2014 NY Slip Op 33897(U) January 16, 2014 Supreme Court, Richmond County Docket Number: 100165/10 Judge: Joseph J. Maltese Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various state and local government websites. These include the New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service, and the Bronx County Clerk's office. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [* 1] Office of the Richmond County Clerk - Page 1 of 7 8/16/2017 11:22:38 AM • 11\ Yi I· -' ,, SUPllEMECOURTOFTHESTATEOt- Mi.'t YORK 0 NTY OF IUCHMOND DCM PAR r 3 Ind \No.: 1(1016~/JO !\lotion No.: 009 & 010 VINCENT CACCESE, AcCion No. J OfflJIJUt LlF.lffit'RR CONTAINER OECI. t. , LTI>.. ('1{1 10~ ORDER HON. JOSFPU .f. MAl:f~'E LlEHBERR CRANE. ll"C. Ln.HnERf~ CON1 AINER ' R,\_ ~ES, L fl). 11tir" P11Ftj• Plaintiff, ln<lt'~ No. AlOfH65/l0 ction Nu. 2 --- -n:r; agaimt -.A rno o -:::: ~a CARGOTEC SOL TIONS, LLC, ~n ._:O ::JC: - .... -:z.: o....- The folluM-1ng ltemt •U'l' (OMidcrt:J rn lht rtvic.- a> ):> , Odcodaot t..ichbt-rr\ Motion for Sunimnry Judgme nt, to include Affirm tion in up11or1 dated Octob r 2, 1013 Mcmorttndum Ln~..· in 'npport of Motion datrd October 2, 2013 2 Afllrmnfion iu Oppo itfon with Ethibits 3 or Rcpl Affirmation.Jn _. opporr of l.iehbcrr's Motion for Summary Judgment \\Ith Exhibits MotJonN~ PJnintitr dated December 2. 20B en .p 0 r- "' -.:0 ~ Affirmation in Oppo itioo to ummury Judgm<-nt b~· John Dugsan. Esq.. ounsel for Oefend1ntffhi rd -P~1rty ~ r" lftC"'> nf ltrtu motlon5 tu d Lrml~' Tbir<l-Parf)• Defendant C'argotec Solution • LLC Motion for Summa11 Judgment including the Affinnation of Gleo F. J"uertb, J<:sq. in Support or the Motion doted Octo~r 4, 2013. with E hibits Memorandum of Law doted October .f, 2013 - n ..... :::::> l 2 N [* 2] Office of the Richmond County cierk - Page 2 of 7 8/16/2017 11:22 :38 AM Memorandum of Law orLid1bcrr In Oppo i1inn to the lotion ror . ummary Jlldgmcnt dnttd n ccm bl·r 2J, 20 t.3 Reply Affirmation of Glen J . F'uerth, Es<J. in Further Support of Defcnd:anl C:irgolcc's lotion with Exhibit5 Dated Dc'Cembcr 16, 2013 Affirmation in Further OpposU ion b~ John \J. Dugan, [sq. Dnled Dccemb r 17, 2013 s These rnat1c-1·s having l'OJnr on for hwmg un Uec1;111ber JO 2011.md this court havm r.::ad the foregoing papers listed u.bove. tJ11s court llc:mC> !he motion of the dcfi:ndams, 1.iehbrn C..:intlliner Crane:~. Ltd . ITTld 1.iC'hbcrr (.'mnc~. Ltd IQ c.l: ml~ .. the pbmt10'~ t':J\L~" \ t ai:rwn from Act:on No. t (Mo1io11009) rJ.nd funhcr denies the molit111 of Cargutec Solutioni, LU·. the tlurd-purty tlcfondunr lo di'lmiss Li hbcrr Container Cranc5, Ltd. ,:..1•.res u1 ncllon from l\ction Xo. 2 {~1o1iun 10}. The pl.tintil . Vincent C.:icct> . ..: dai1t1) 1h.1t on :\ug11i.1 9. 2007, while \\.Or"ing a1 lh~ Hawl1md Hook Marin~ TmninaJ (mm 1-..'ltown as '1rll.1 hc-rcmaftl!r n:fermi m n:~ the N~\\· York Contuin<r Tcrmmul ("NYcr·n as n huc;1ler Jnvct. he wa:i. 111Jurc<l. 'Ille cl.umeLI i:11use o! hh in;ury w~ th~ nmlfu.nctionof a C'()nuUnercnm~. m.mufai;tutcd l:i)" PA CECO, an.J rc.!furtn:>hetl 1.:w Ii~ in 2007 by the defendant, Liehberr. TI1c rlnJmjff clnim5 that i\ conl.:uncr wh1c:h W'..lS being IO\\Cl"Cd by lhc ('\perotor of the subject c.ont.aincr cnm<". I .oms ~pi talu:n ... "s 1ddcnly and withtlut worning dropp~ with execs i\'e force and speed . .•· 3.0d struck the trailer anadii:'J to rus bu51kr. th .1'~by causing bis hustler to shnkc ruad in tum ell using tum to l~t' lhrown about <he interior of the cab of the hustler. A hustler i~ n sunplified truc.k tra ·tor w.ni to pull tnuh.:rs am! chi1ss1s t.Sei: Dep. r~:-c.o;, l ~ .uid 14. ) Thi! trnilers u~cd (Si."rrnc:timc:~ cruled t:i.,1m b c.m.-1 t~r rcJ birds) t1rc nlsv l!luJilicd \\ ith slruucJ sid(~ so n~ to a~s1st the i:rnr1c op~rator in l.mdmg il i:~mwiner onto the tnuler A ln1~k dw-;si~ Wtl'i nor involved in this case_ When a contuincr is I.mer~ b} th<' c:o1naim;r .:r-anc operator. the front of th-e COntain~'r (end \\ithOUl Wl OpC'llillg. \ j.; i:IOSC<:l (t) ffi~· t"rnnt lH lh t: !t:.11Jer (tlld {If tnUkr Ch'l"C'st lO the hustler) and the ba~k of the ~mtaincr 1~nd w11h the <.hlO~ u! 1he 1.nntamcr) is d.1se ! to the rear of the; trailer. 2 [* 3] Office of the Richmond County Clerk - Page 3 of 7 8/16/2017 11:22:38 AM Mr. Ca~ ~<t,C nc\'cr ~:.iw the con1a111cr thJt lw <1llcgcs "ltruck. lu!i L rullcr with l!xccssivc for.;~. (Cti~sc Dep. p. 80, l i 6· I Ii, p 81 l. 2J top. 8' I 0. 1 l1u: opt~r:ltv1 of :he ran~. 1.1.,uis 'tpitalt ri, has no knowledge of the evcrus of..\ugtl!-1 Q 2007 <Spit.1lacr1 01,;p. p. 91 1. t 1-lfi: p. 103. I. 20·23: r. 148, l. :S· 17.l C'\'Cnt A co-work('r, ( }nlhi.t Hrot1f..,ij, wh.1 \\R~ .1!s(1 3 hu ·tier driv~n\:tS u WltnCS:> to the complatnl!d ot by Mr l ·1.1c<>ei;I!. M1. Orooks wa... lncatc<l m her lwstler ,...,ch n rr iler operated by Mr. Cacce\C'. Her r~:rsrecti\c \\'ti.: • Ul'.h filltt tl hcd, two htJ..<itkn; bchind the hus11cr th~ trailcr'~/conllitm•r':- 11gln ~hk v•.is to her right l\nd the trnikr' contmncr' s kit llitlic wus to her kn Mr Brooks, now decctlscd, :.ippc.m:d 1or her 1.kro!iiti1m 011 Febr~ry 6, '20 12 Ou:ing hcc <leposttion, Mi.. Hmukr; testlfic:J Llut s1 thi: lim~ ol tht pl. mtllf !I oU~6 ~ mju;y, hhc obsc:n.:d n conlniner bdng lowered by tht: crane ut"i<r1.11or tP'wi1rd !he trnrli..r t\Unched to the pl;unliirs hustl~r nt 3 mtc that w~ foster than U !Ulfll ·n1nl the subject lnnta1nt'r w·: u l\\ 1stctl C 1.: ,~J ) to the nght (rit;ht- front of the container\~ (lC'Sitionc-d hl the rig hi .~fth~ right ..i.:le uf tht> tr 1!er and lhc left-rear nfthc muter w~ po:.-1l1oncd to th ... kit C'f 1hi: lttt !iJd~ ct the tn11k1 J. fhnt tht.! fwnt ,11 lhe \:('lrttliner was lilted (trirnmcJ) so that the fronr oftl11.1 i:o111·uner \\DS !cwrer rhan the tt3.l' ul the- container l hnr the conts..iner v.11s Ii.sung to thi! ri }hr <right ;:1id(.• of tl1c: canr..Unr:r). Occt1 l'if the µ.i-:1 (lf)ll use ~ 1,ntuinc:r ,...-;:is low<.:r lhau thi: h.:ti :;idc ol Lhe or rhc: \.<'JnlaiJlC'I, JS It '-'·•-> bc111g : \'Crc<l, !: tir~l m..dc .:on la.ct \'.ith 1hc rlght front ~omcr of th-.: 1mikr th.·forc making contuct with any othl.:'I ponhin 1.1f the tra1 k-t. and the muler tilted riR!ll when the co1Hamer fint m;\Ut:- ~onmct \\'hen •Iii; co:u.linc:r wa<: fir.a put Jown on the plamlit'f s trailer, ll wns nm st: 1~h1 uml the \lperotor had to lift th~ 1.: mtuinrr nml put 1 it hack tloy,n n.g.t1n. M.:;. Brooks aid not obc;en c rn:. 1hi11g 1hat cau.s('J her \\.\lS lowered in the m ..tnncr she 1.kscrib..:d. a manner she als.o hi knnw wmJ '"'"'.1!' unusu..11 {llriwk.-. D..:p p. 26, 1. 7·17~ p. 27, 1. 1 l top. :s. l . It); p JO. l 21 k' f'· !I, I. 10: p. Jl, I. 2·t l.8tup 31, l.2:p. 55, l.16-l'J.) '\ why the cvntaintt hJ p. 34, l. 6; p. JS, [* 4] Office of the Richmond County cierk - Page 4 of 7 8/16/2017 11:22:38 AM ~{r. f'llaltcri, lhc operator of \hi: i;.-r.lne nl!\Cr sluppcJ wmking and lht!re W•!.!t nu shutdown of the wotl nftcr M5, Brnok..\ \lbscrved lhe con uncr rl· ·cd n:o the rtaintill' ~I hirJ. (Rrool<~ Dep. p. 23, I 25 top. '.M. l. 14.) A mouon for summary Judgment must be dcn?c,1 if there are "facts sul1kicnl to rcquir~ u 1.tfal of M)' issue of iw:t (CPLR ~3.212(b j). Uranung .~umnmry ;11dgm1:n1 i~ unl) appropriate wh(lte a thorough examination of the merits dcru"I>' dcmons1ratcs the dbst:nce ol .my triable issut's of foct. "Mrireover, the parties compct:ng contentions must be 'iewcJ in iJ hgbr most tn' ..,.,,b!e tv t!:e pm) opposing the mmion" l Summary judg.ntl·nr shC\uld uot be grantc:d where: rhc1e is any <:!oubt as to thf' exi. fence of a triable ii.sue or where the ex1s1cnci: uf an i.,~u1: j, arcu~blc .: A· is rck11ant. ~umflUU} judgment i!. ,1 drastic remedy tlmr should be l?Juntl!ll only if no tii.ib!c i~:iu~s of fact exi!)t and the movant 1:1 eot1tlcd to JUdgmem ,1s a mmtcr l1f!nw i On a m~Hron for sumrrmry judgi.ncut, thi: function oflhccourt i~ lssue finding. and nvt 1ssu~ d~1cm1in.1t1on.° In makm~ such an inquiry, the proofmwn be scrutinized C3ttfully m !he light mo l fa\'or.tblc to thl! part~ opposing the mothm.' Motion No. 9 After f\:.:ding the papers and cxh1hns ~uhm1ttcd .mJ the .ilgoinents uf counsel for cac:h o the parties, it Dppc.lrs to th1~ Court tklt there 1': iSS\J.;!;, of l4~t 3$ IU th.; method of opcratlcm u( the crane'i; sprc&Jcr barn:; st descended with the lt>ad<'<l Ct'lnl.tin<.1' 1(1\\ mis tht: red bml vehicle. The dcfcmJa.nt, Lichbcrt mgucs lfrnt this m·cidi:m oi.:cum:<.l due 10 a humnu err r b} cr:.w~ operator. Louis 1 Marin' M1dlu11 i Hanle. NA . r. L>i110, ct aJ • 168 J\D2d 61 O (2d Dept 1990 I. : An11:ri~·un Homr: A.'!:uumce C'o. ,. Amt•rfiir,f /111,·n1arw1wl Cort . ~00 AD2d .n2 [let Dept 199.!IJ. Rotuba Exirudt•rs "· C.•ppv.~.. '16 '\IY2d 22J {1978 l: 101 AD2d 500 f1d lkpt 2003) 3 llt•rrp1 i•. ' W,•i1;i:r ,, G1t ·Ro Du: < 11trmg. 104 .-\D2d 3~ 1 [2d Dt-pl 1984] ' [1985}. 1 GlcmnotJ \•. Mayo. 148 AD~cl 580 {~d D ·pl l 'l89 j J A 1rb0Mt! I re,ghl C1Jrp. ,Jf/ d 6S N\'2d 732 [*Office 5] of the Richmond County Clerk - Page 5 of 7 8/16/2017 11:22:38 AM Spitaheri, who failed co fun.her slow down Lh~ d1sscn1 of lhe container before at1emptmg to place it on lhc rcJ bird opcraten by the plaintifr. l'he plaintiffhns nrcucd thal this type: ofltccidenl is fo«:!ii:(.'able. Plaintiff's ~)(pcrt.S testified that I.he slo\ down mc<:hlrnism on the conudner crar1c requires n back up or redundancy system to prcvcnt I.he type of acc1dent thal occurred tn t.Ju1; case. The dcfc:ndnnt. through 1tse. pert, nrgucs l1m1 the sluw down syt.tc1n is designed perfe~lly MJ is ndjusted b) the ownet. New York Contatncr Temiinnl, as to the speed nnd distance by which the <.'.onutiner is slowed down suflicicntly to safety place it upon lhe red bird. his the oootention of the defendnnt Lichbt:rr, who refurbished the crane in 2007, that the d6ign wn.-; proper and th<it redundnnt slow Jown ::O)'blcm. which the 1t was phumil'.f~ not dcfe~u,·e because It lo.ck~d u backup or c:xpcru claim was in use b>· m, s1 of the other conbuncr tcnninals m the United St.ates To prevail on :i claim for des3sn dcfc.l!t under tru.:ories of l'tnct tort liability and negligence. a phunutf musl dcmonsuaic that (I) :he pmduct n.s de i!,-nCd \\'OS "llt>t reasonably afC'," (2) there was r Cl. safer, fcusible altern!ll!VC design ~l the tim.; or" mcinufactun.:; t-1nd (31 the defoctt\'C de.sign was ll substantiul factor in cowing the plaintifrs inJ11rlcs.1' Thl"rc appears to be a \'&st differen~c l"f Clpinion bet\\ccn the prescnttd plain11ff s Md defendant's expert opinions. The plainttfftws demonstrated that the subject slow down mci;.hmisrn may not have been reasonably safe nod 1he1·c were safer, fcllstblc :ilt1Jmntivc Llcs!gn!l lll the Lltne of the crane refurbishing b~· the dcfcnd:un th:u were 1n lL~ in other t'nnuiincr tc-:mjnuJs nnd that the lack of r11c rcdund;uu slow down system. which onl,lr kn fon:sec.ablc nrcrntor error In allowin~ a loaded container to descend. onto the plnintitf s n:d b1td at an <:"<4...:~i,1ve 'Peed end forc1: "'hich was a substmllial factor in causing plaintiffs inJUI). 11 Voss''· .Black & Decker Mfg. Co., 59 f\ . Y.2d I02. 107l1983); Gon::ale~ ,. Delta Intl. Macli. Corp.. 307 A.D.2d 1020, 1023 , (2 Dept. 2003) [*Office 6] of the Richmond County Clerk - Page 6 of 7 8/16/2017 11:22:38 AM TI1c Appellate Div1:-ion. Second l )~ronm~nl 1n Glrcsfl11·Ci:Ht'Y ,. Ow; Flt vlllor Co ,1 held th.'U ..the weight to be anorded the .:ont11'-unlol l~ ttmony of c.'i~rt~ i .. u numer particularly w1thin !he.' province of the JU[} "' In 201 ' the ..\ppella~ Oivision, • econd Ocpa.rtment hdJ that where there arr: confln:ung e:-:pert opinions with rc.·1.rnnJ to the: reasonable silfcly of a mflCh111e, thl! dcniu.J of swnrrutry judgment ii\ appmprintc' Th111 is l'};.ictl) wh:n is presemeo.I hy the npit11011~ of pluintltT~ expert Man Jfartzell l!.lld dcfondrulfs in-hou~ ex pen Jerry Chll,ird Consequently. lhe defcndunt, Lichbc'rr is r.o1 c.'1l1tlcrl to ·unm\A;') judgment di5.Jllis~g the pl iin~uf s =3uscs \1: t'ld.ton ~t 11. Motion No. I(I The cross-chums 6)£3.in!>t Cargotcc ~nvicc~ USA by LichocrT were 'olwmu1ty ubaudoned by Llchberr as to the quality of he work performed b} C rgotc Services li. 1\ are Ccilrdingiy dismissed. As to the chlim<i by Ltdib<:rr .igainsi Cur •otc Sol ut1oni., r I. C'. those cJrumli :ire not d1smi-ssed us theft' sllll rcm:Un~ «1ntl1.;ting ~~ilium: t \\hethcr Carg.ote1.: 'r" ib prC"oi:cclic:..1r~' mpany, Kalmar, prov1deJ hustler vehicles with seatbelts. which the dnvcrs, likc the plumtiff, Vim.·ent Cucrcse, could havu llscd. Moreover, counsel lbr Cnrgo1cc admitttd in cc11m lhru Cargmec Jid nol p1'1Sl any warnings lo the driver:. to \Wur !>Calbells. Wkrll.' the platnti ll cm1ld not c:onfirm if rherc was u scatbcl1 in the h~kr he was J:inng on the date i'\f the at.rnknt he ~I 1m~-d in a • 1otitc w Admit thn! had he been wnmed to wear a 5C'..itbelt. he \\ L hJvc '"om 1r 1f i1 wus U'-wfable. iulJ Whether Cacc~sc ·s wearing of ,1 searbell wu11ld ha\'t prevented M minimi2cd h1:;: injuries is another issue of fact for a JUf) ,,r a JuJi;t tu Jclt'rmam:. Ct>n~C4lucnll). Cargotec 1s not cntillt::d to summRt; judgment an lho. c: 1~~1..le:\ in tht" cnv., .dmms b~ f.ithbcrr 1 268 A.D.2d 406, (2i.I Dt"pt. 2000) • Id. [* 7] Office of the Richmond County Clerk - Page 7 of 7 8 / 16/ 2 017 11: 22: 38 AM . "' . . ORDER.ED. lhnt lhe motion (Numb •r 9101 dcfendunt Ltl'.hbcrr Cont.iinct Cranes, Ltd .. is denied m all respc.cb. J.nd &I 1s further ORDERl.:.D, thlll lhC' lllL1tion (!>.:umbet I0) of th~ thlr,l-pa1 Jcfondant. L'ar1Mcc Solutiom. 1y LLC', is grantC"d tn p~n t('I dismiss the thml·rarty plumtifl, I 1ehlX'.r1· Lontafricr ( rlncs. Ltd. cross- claim as to the qllillit} of 1hc \\Ork pcrfonncJ by Car~ole{.: Scr"iccs t;SA, alk/a Co1KOtt<: olutioas, Ltd.; and it is funher ORDEIU:.O. that all nlh<'r cross-claims of Liehberr ugomst Cargotcc .. olutions. LLC a.re nor di~mi~. ·d: .md it i · furtht ORQERED, 1.hm C.:ur~otec St.:rvicl':t US1 b ll~n:by Jhruiss~ll f rorn Actiun N<.1. I; and it i~ \ further ORDERED. that I.hi.- c.1. e shall proc<ed to trutl on the f(1" 1ning issue'!. 111is case is trnnsforrcd for trail to Ju.'!tice JudiLh N. McMahon, the /\ss1~nn1l!nt Judge. to ~hedulc n dale for thjs non·;ury &rial. DA lhD: January 16, 2l1l.t 7

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.